Today's Sports

Although the term “Death Valley” sounds menacing and conjures feelings of desolation and foreboding, the Washington County Commanders have found the field at Lincoln County High School in Stanford, Ky., a pleasurable place to play. WC has never lost on that field, defeating Garrard County 33-28 in 2007, and winning 35-30 over home team Lincoln County in the 2008 Death Valley Bowl. Washington County was hoping to add a third win this past Friday night as the 0-3 Commanders cracked helmets with the 1-2 Patriots.

The stage was set and the field was wet as the Washington County Commanders hosted the rival Marion County Knights at Bennett R. Lewis Field in Springfield. In recent years, Marion has come out on top in contests that have been decided by a touchdown or less. Tonight, the Knights returned home with a 52-7 win over the Commanders.

Some sports are tougher than others, but one of the toughest has to be mixed martial arts, and Springfield native Deon Spalding is the reigning heavyweight champion.

Spalding competed in Hardrock MMA 12: Night of the Champions on Aug. 15 at Paroquet Springs Conference Centre in Shepherdsville. Competing as a member of Team Animal, Spalding went one-on-one with Michael “PK” Parker for the vacated Heavyweight belt.

In a ceremony held last Wednesday evening in the gym at Lourdes Hall, St. Catharine College unveiled championship banners to commemorate the 2009 national titles won by both the Patriot baseball and softball teams.

First, head softball coach Holly Smith took the stage to introduce returning team members from the championship squad. The team intro was followed by a slide show from the title game, accompanied by a play-by-play re-enactment of the final at-bats.

After a dormant period, Washington County High School is fielding a soccer team this year. Yes, a soccer team. And though the team has yet to win their first game this season, head coach Emily McConnell knows that this is a building year, and that the players have a lot to learn and a long way to come.

“It’s an all-girls JV team,” said McConnell. “Some of the girls at the school presented site-based council with the idea of reinstating the team, so it was a student-motivated effort.”

The St. Catharine Patriots volleybll team flexed its muscles Saturday to win all three matches in a quad-match they hosted.

Against Berea the Patriots won 25-7, 25-7 and 25-2. Lauren Bowling led the way with five kills while Brittini Schmidt and Sam Gehler had five each. Mandy Gray had 14 digs and Taylor Malott had 15 assists.

They followed that win with a four-game set victory over Hiwassee, in which Schmidt had 10 kills, and Gray, the Mid-South Conference Player of the Week, had 15 digs. The Patriots won 25-5, 25-27, 25-8, 25-7.

The Washington County Commanders earned their first win of the season Friday night with a 48-24 defeat of Lincoln County in Stanford.

The Commanders got on the board first with a touchdown run by senior back Tyree Railey. It didn't take long for the Patriots to answer as they found the end zone on their next possession to knot the score at 7-7. Halfway through the first quarter, Lincoln County added a field goal to take a 10-7 lead head into the second quarter.